The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-22
AN EvrcrEp TENANT.
Deplorable Condition of an Aged Irish Wo-
man Who Recently Arrived in Indiana.

Logansport Indiana. Special.
Yesterday an elderly lady of more than ordi-
nary intelligence applied to Township-trustee
Hammontree for aid. She gave her name as
Margaret Rooney, and recited tale pitful in
the extreme. She stated that she WAS 60 years
of age, and that she was born and reared in
woman and had but one relative living, sister,
whose whereabouts she knew nothing Of
She further stated that up to last March she had
always lived upon the estate of landlord named
George Shirley, and held lien on three acres of
land, which were two houses; that she lived
in very comfortable circumstances, gaining
livelihood for herself by doing fancy needlework
and by renting of the houses and portion
of the land to a sub tenant, thus enabling her TO
meet all her obligations and keep the wolf from
the door. Miss Rooney satisfied with her
surroundings and contented with her lot in life,
once doubling but what she would be per-
mitted to pass her last days in peace. Soch,
however. was not to be the A cloud APP
peared the scene OF contentuent Land
lord Shirley finally determined to divide his
estate up into larger tracts of land and to evlct
tie smaller tenants. The first day of last March
found the crowbar brigade st Miss Rooney's door
demanding Immediate possession Of the premises
upon which she had 80 long resided. and on her
truders without further deiay proceeded to
level the house to the ground. This being
complisbed, they then destroyed all her furni
ture and turned her out pauper the road
side, giving her the choice OF going to the poor
house or accepting passage either to Aus
trala or Canada. She concluded to visit the
~
the small pittance of 500, that amount having
been presented to her by few charitable
acquaintance in Ireland She was over seven
weeks in making the voyage. and landed in
Quebec May l. After remaining there for so me
time she learned that her sister lived at Auburn.
Ind. She left FOR Auburn, taking all the money
she had to purchase a ticket for that point
Arriving at Auburn che learned that her sister
had moved to the far West years She then
walked to Logansport, a distance of euty-five
miles, arriving here Monday evening in an ex-
hausted condition. She expected to find in this
city charitable institution kept by Sisters of
the Poor, where she would be received and cared
for, and when informed that there such
an institution here she became very Respondent,
and stated that she had been tempted on several
occasions while on her tramp from Auburn to go
into the woods and lie down and die The trus-
tee and county attorney, after investigating
the case, came to the conclusion that Margaret
Rooney is an imported pauper; that some action
should be taken in the matter. and that during
the in vestigaton she should be placed Temporal
lily in the poor house. This matter involves a
question of considerable magnitude, and it is
high time for the authorities to inquire by what
right Irish landlords manufacture paupers for
shipment to this country. and by what clause in
international law they are justified IL delivering
them American soil to be supported here
until they recover from the effects OF their lord
ships process of reducing them to pauperism.